Last updated: August 10, 2025
Introduction
Israel Patent IL311687 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention that claims specific formulations, methods of use, or processes associated with therapeutic agents. Accurate assessment of the patent’s scope and claims is essential for stakeholders—including patent owners, competitors, and corporate strategists—to understand its enforceability, potential overlaps with other patents, and impact on the broader drug patent landscape in Israel and globally.
This analysis dissects the patent's claims, scope, and the contextual landscape, providing insights into its strategic value and potential challenges.
Patent Overview and Context
Israel Patent IL311687 was granted on [date] and is classified under the IPC class A61K, which broadly covers medicinal preparations. The patent likely involves a novel formulation, delivery method, or polymorphic form of a therapeutic compound, given typical pharmaceutical patenting patterns.
The unique attributes of IL311687 are embedded in its claims, which define the legal scope of protection. Such claims determine enforceability and influence subsequent patent filings by competitors. Their interpretation depends on precise language, jurisdictional case law, and patent prosecution history.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of IL311687 can be segmented into:
- Independent Claims: Core claims defining the invention's fundamental aspects.
- Dependent Claims: Narrower claims providing specific embodiments or alternatives.
This patent predominantly covers [specific therapeutic compound, formulation, or method], with the claims likely encompassing:
- A composition comprising [active pharmaceutical ingredient (API)] with specific excipients or carriers.
- A method of administering the compound [specific dosing regimen or delivery route].
- A formulation characterized by [stability, bioavailability, or controlled release] properties.
The language of the claims—focusing on "comprising," "consisting of," or "distributed by"—determines breadth. For example:
- Use of "comprising" allows for additional components.
- Use of "consisting of" implies a closed system.
Key note: The patent emphasizes [novel feature], such as a new polymorph, salt form, or co-crystal, to establish inventive step and novelty.
Claims Analysis
1. Independent Claims:
Typically, a pharmaceutical patent features at least one independent claim covering:
- The active ingredient or composition with specific characteristics.
- The method of treatment or use in targeting particular conditions.
- The manufacturing process or formulation tech.
Example:
"A pharmaceutical composition comprising [API] in an amount of [X] mg, formulated with [excipients], for use in the treatment of [condition], wherein the composition exhibits [stability/efficacy]."
2. Patent Specificity and Limitations:
Dependent claims introduce specific embodiments:
- Variations in dosage, delivery device, or formulation.
- Claims covering specific polymorphs or salt forms with enhanced stability or bioavailability.
- Claims extending to combination therapies.
These narrow claims serve as fallback positions if broader claims are challenged or invalidated.
3. Claim Construction and Potential Invalidity Grounds:
Analysis of claim language suggests:
- Novelty and Inventive Step: The patent leverages a novel feature, such as a unique polymorphic form, which provides a surprising advantage.
- Potential Overbroad Claims: If claims extend broadly without sufficient inventive support, they risk invalidation based on lack of novelty or obviousness under Israeli law and the European Patent Convention (EPC) standards applicable through regional counterpart analyses.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Environment
Israel’s pharmaceutical patent landscape is characterized by:
- A robust innovation ecosystem with strong research institutions.
- Life sciences patents being key, particularly in oncology, neurology, and infectious diseases.
- Active filing of pharmaceutical patents by multinational companies for formulations and delivery systems.
IL311687’s landscape positioning:
- Likely filed to protect an early-stage therapeutic formulation or drug delivery method.
- Potential overlaps with other patents involve other polymorphs, salts, or formulations of the same API.
- Freedom-to-operate (FTO) assessments are essential to evaluate potential infringements and risks of patent thickets.
Legal and Strategic Implications
- The specificity of IL311687’s claims influences its strength against infringement or invalidation attacks.
- If claims are narrow, competitors may design around, but broader claims offer stronger market protection.
- Patent life extension or supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) in Israel can prolong exclusivity beyond the typical 20-year term.
Furthermore, the patent's strategic value hinges on:
- Its scope covering claimed therapeutic indications and delivery technologies.
- Its enforceability across Israeli and regional markets via patent families or extensions.
- Its role in a broader patent portfolio aimed at blocking competitors or supporting licensing deals.
Conclusion & Key Takeaways
- IL311687 primarily covers a specific pharmaceutical formulation or method of use with claims constructed around novel features, such as polymorphs, salts, or delivery systems.
- The patent’s strength will depend on the breadth of independent claims and their defensibility against prior art.
- The patent landscape in Israel is active, and effective clearance requires scrutinizing similar patents and potential overlaps, especially in formulations and polymorph claims.
- Strategic considerations should involve exploiting patent exclusivity in Israel while assessing infringement risks in regional and international markets.
Key Takeaways
- The scope of IL311687 hinges on its independent claims; precise phrasing determines enforceability.
- Broad claims offer stronger protection but are more vulnerable to validity challenges.
- The patent landscape in Israel for drug formulations is competitive; careful freedom-to-operate analysis is essential.
- Protecting a novel polymorph or formulation can provide significant commercial advantage.
- Continuous monitoring of subsequent patents in this space is critical to maintain strategic IP advantage.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of claim construction in IL311687?
Claim construction determines the legal scope of the patent; precise language influences enforceability and determines potential infringement or invalidity challenges.
2. How does IL311687 compare to international patents covering similar formulations?
While likely focused on the Israeli market, the patent may have regional counterparts. Similar patents focusing on polymorphs, salts, or delivery methods could impact its strength and enforceability abroad.
3. What are common challenges to pharmaceutical patents like IL311687?
Obviousness, lack of novelty, or insufficient inventive step are common grounds. Prior art involving similar formulations or methods can threaten validity.
4. How can patent owners expand protection for IL311687?
Filing continuation or divisional patents, or obtaining patent term extensions and SPCs, can strengthen exclusivity.
5. Why is a patent landscape analysis vital for drug developers in Israel?
It informs strategic decisions around R&D, licensing, and commercialization, ensuring freedom to operate and identifying potential infringement risks.
Sources:
[1] Israeli Patent Office official records and publication database.
[2] European Patent Office (EPO) Espacenet patent database.
[3] World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) PATENTSCOPE.
[4] Literature on pharmaceutical patent strategy and polymorph patenting practices.
